Staking out a niche can help your job shop win repeat business and steady revenue. Discover how several successful job shops have claimed theirs.
Mazak Corp. hosts the Discover More with Mazak open house at its Dallas Technical Center on March 11-12 in Dallas, Texas. The event will feature the company’s Variaxis i-700T five-axis machining center, QT-Ez 12MY horizontal turning center, Integrex j-200S Neo multitasking machine and Syncrex 38/9 Swiss-type turning machine.
By building processes for its niche, rather than a general manufacturing approach, Grind All has developed an unusual (yet profitable) value proposition.
In job shops, throughput often lives in the steps between cuts: tooling, offsets, refixturing, programming and training. The March issue features practical ways shops are cutting setup time and variation through multitasking, modular tooling, process stability and more.
At its 2026 Motion Meeting, Studer celebrated 50 years of its machine foundations, plus a new inexpensive machine and a thriving apprenticeship program. Read on to learn what machine shops can take away from the event.
Job shops don’t mass produce parts — they mass produce setups. Here’s how Sanks Machining has streamlined setup in its shop.
Struggling with blind holes in thin materials? Use these drill point strategies, tap selections and clearance tips to maximize usable thread depth and meet pull-out specs without redesigning the part.
A U-axis head can be a good option for shops hoping to perform turning and boring operations on a CNC milling machine.
Kennametal’s KCU25B tooling proved durable enough for turn-peeling a lengthy austenitic stainless steel 1.4435 rotor while reducing cycle times.
Addman Advanced Metals has scaled from a single 3D printer to 25 while also building out a robust array of subtractive machines. In this video, find out how the shop manages its additive and subtractive workflows — and how it combines the two into a profitable niche.
Tungaloy’s DrillMeister system enables users to build drills for a range of applications with a mix-and-match set of drill heads and tool bodies.
Relying on crimping and sacrificial frames instead of dovetails cuts operations from Novo Modo’s high-end, high-mix work. What’s more, it supports the shop’s tight features and tighter tolerances.
A new generation of buyers and technological advances are reshaping the quoting process. Here’s how job shops can turn these shifts into growth opportunities.
Learn how Mastercam senior education market specialist Clint Smith jumped into a machining program after high school with no prior experience, and why he thinks the future of manufacturing is in good hands.
With only four machine tools, high-mix shop Novo Modo needed a surefire way to prove out programs and prevent spindle crashes. But when it adopted a CAD/CAM software with digital twin simulation capabilities, it found that its benefits ran even deeper than anticipated.
For Flying S, Verisurf is more than inspection software — it’s a source of data for engineering, manufacturing and customers, as well as a common platform to communicate that data.
In its quest to become a single source for all its customers, sheet metal fabricator GTR Manufacturing long considered bringing machining in house, but a lack of space and expertise held it back – until it found the perfect solution.
When a beloved machinist’s passing left his shop in his children’s hands, the three siblings stepped up, transforming the business to honor his legacy and build a new future.
Advancements in digital three-point micrometers enable more precise bore measurements with a self-aligning design, interchangeable heads and wireless data collection.
Confocal technology takes optical measurement to the next level, enabling nanometer precision for roughness, topography and form measurements.
How do you measure tight-tolerance parts on a plate gage without stumbling into subtle errors? George Schuetz explains his process.
Metrology peripherals can help your shop develop useful new capabilities and improve your throughput. But effective improvements require more than just equipment — Ken Myers of Mitutoyo discusses the technology, software and philosophy behind better metrology workflows.
With newer structures frequently requiring nanometer-scale dimensions, more surface analysis is required. Optical noncontact surface analysis can provide the magnification required for these measurements during development and for in-process measurements.
A partnership between military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries and AI-powered robotics company Path Robotics promises to reshape high-mix manufacturing in shipyards and beyond.
Smart manufacturing is the integration of IIoT, Industry 4.0, AI and digital twins to enhance efficiency, flexibility and sustainability in modern factories.
OnRobot's free Build Your Automation Roadmap event, which takes place in Dallas on Febrauary 19, features live robot demos and sessions on overcoming manufacturing labor shortages.
Tech Days are only the beginning for DMG MORI’s Cleveland office as its team prepare to provide training and support for customers from Kentucky to western New York.
New hardware and software releases from Vention’s 2025 Demo Day, including some powered by AI, are designed to make advanced automation more accessible to manufacturers.
Murata Machinery USA Inc. appoints new president and CEO along with division heads to strengthen commitment to automation and customer success in North America.
The “Made in China 2025” plan transformed China into a global automation supplier. What will the U.S. do to compete?
Modern Machine Shop was early to cover CNC when others weren’t. Now, as AI pushes into programming, optimization and robotics, we need to separate production-ready tools from overpromised tech.
TASC is a one-of-a-kind, two-day automation conference designed to drive efficiency, quality and scalability at U.S. job shops. Register now through July 11 to receive early-bird pricing and discover practical automation solutions tailored for small-and mid-sized shops.
The Automated Shop Conference (TASC, August 12–13) is designed for job shop leaders looking to implement automation in practical, high-impact ways — from lights-out machining to AI-driven programming and front-office integration. Here are 10 standout sessions led by shop owners, engineers and innovators who are pushing automation forward without massive budgets or unrealistic expectations.
TASC 2025 takes place in Indianapolis this August. Attendees will be able to learn automation strategies from their peers: All information—no bluster.
New U.S.-based event announced in 2021 finally debuts next year: focuses on complete additive manufacturing value chain. More at formnextchicago.com.
Chiron Group combines the best of both worlds at IMTS 2024, featuring live demonstrations of their Micro5 and Mill 2000 machines, alongside a cutting-edge virtual showroom. This innovative approach allows visitors to explore Chiron’s full product lineup without the logistical challenges of transporting large equipment.
Half of the 16 machines in the company’s booth are world or North American debuts.
Learn more about the variety of technology and machinery Hwacheon Machinery America, Inc. is featuring at its IMTS 2024 booth.
FANUC’s IMTS 2024 booth includes real-time demonstrations that show the abilities of its equipment, including robots, controllers and machine tools.
AI has the potential to reshape manufacturing software — but first, it will require data.
Follow these guidelines to get the most out of aggressive roughing while improving cycle times and keeping quality intact.
A year of shifting tariffs and strained capex budgets exposed a split among manufacturing leaders: those waiting out the storm, and those designing strategy around it. Here’s why the second group is pulling ahead.
Nine machines, two machinists. What technologies have enabled Midway Swiss Turn to operate at this level of lean staffing? Find out in this shop tour.
Part programming can become a bottleneck, one that only gets longer as part complexity increases. MSP has cut down this bottleneck through AI-powered CAM software. Get the details inside.
How can a facility that requires manual work for some long-standing parts be made more efficient? Join us as we look inside The L. S. Starrett Company’s headquarters in Athol, Massachusetts, and see how this long-established OEM is updating its processes.
Grants. Software. Process consolidation. These three pillars can bring new life to a shop, enabling it to take on more complex jobs with faster turnarounds. In this shop tour, find out how MSP Manufacturing has used each pillar to solidify itself as a reliable partner for defense and aerospace companies.
Mason Montalvo took up the challenge of starting his own shop running manual machine tools to produce complex parts.
In this episode of Made in the USA, several executives and senior staff at Hardinge give their first-person account of how they formulated the plan to shift the manufacturing of its milling and turning product lines from its Taiwan plant to its plant in Elmira, New York, the major challenges they encountered and the rewards that made it worth the effort.
The L.S. Starrett Co. has been manufacturing precision measurement tools in Athol, Massachusetts, since 1880. Attention to U.S. manufacturing often focuses on reshoring manufacturing from other countries, but Starrett never left. The facility in Athol employs hundreds and produces thousands of tools that remain vital for measurement in machining and other fields.
The latest episode “Made in the USA” podcast explores a company that uses collaborative robots, one of the key tools helping US machine shops and other manufacturers compete with lower cost countries by automating production.
When Puneet and Neelam Neotia moved from India to the United States several years ago, they brought with them a family background in manufacturing and CNC machining. Now the couple is working to get their startup machine shop off the ground, sourcing new customers and getting the word out about their shop in Clarksville, Indiana. The couple — proud to publicize their "Made in the USA" parts — is leveraging family connections and manufacturing capabilities back in India, but not in the way that some people assume.
Entrepreneur Scott Colosimo found early success in China producing parts for his Cleveland-based motorcycle company in the mid-2000s. This is the story of how IP theft issues overwhelmed the business, prompting Colosimo and his team to start over from scratch — and move production back to the United States.
So far, Made in the USA has looked into system-wide effects of broken supply chains, automation, skilled workforce issues and our perception of manufacturing jobs — examining each topic through a prism of individual experiences. For this final episode for Season 1, let’s look at one more system-wide question and bring it back to personal perspectives: Is there today a new dawn, a new moment for American manufacturing?
Modern Machine Shop is proud to announce the 2026 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey, opening February 1 through March 31, 2026.
What sets a Top Shop apart from other shops? Industry leaders explored this question at the 2025 Top Shops Conference and found a common answer: proactive, intentional purchases and systems planning.
Learn how veteran-owned shop Win-Tech not only excels in aerospace and defense manufacturing with CMMC level two compliance, but also transforms lives by hiring veterans and encouraging students to explore manufacturing.
Discrete parts manufacturing is defined by complexity and tight margins. The 2025 Top Shops honorees show how leading shops turn those pressures into strengths, using technology, culture and strategy to compete. Join them in Charlotte, North Carolina, this November to see what the top 20% are doing differently.
How Marathon Precision’s mix of vertical integration, lights-out automation and cultural investment earned it a 2025 Top Shops Award for Business Strategies
Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.
Jared Doerfler quit his comfortable job and taught himself CNC machining to launch his boutique putter company in small-town Iowa. With zero prior machining experience, Doerfler poured his life savings into a dream — crafting high-quality, American-made golf putters in his own machine shop. A story of risk, resilience and turning passion into reality.
America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) eclipses 20,000 online students and 5,000 in-person participants, underscoring the resurgence of interest in American manufacturing jobs.
SmartCAM v2026's new features include enhanced tool home positions, group functions, mask/hide options, CTK/MCL improvements, rotation support and more for improved productivity.
InnovMetric, in collaboration with Faro Creaform, provides data acquisition from metrology-grade 3D scanners directly in PolyWorks|Inspector, preserving workflows and unlocking advanced inspection capabilities.
Exair’s Chip Trapper lid rebuild kit enables users to bolster performance on older units.
Star SU LLC introduces Alcrona EVO coating technology across its gear cutting tool portfolio, improving wear resistance and tool life.
Seco’s BB732 boring bridges are designed to provide vibration-free performance, optimal coolant flow and high-quality surface finishes.
Get an exclusive early look at what’s coming in Mastercam 2027. In this preview webinar, we’ll highlight upcoming innovations designed to make CNC programming faster, smarter and more connected across your manufacturing workflows. Join our product experts to see how Mastercam continues to evolve to meet the real-world needs of modern shops and programmers. Discover what’s next and how it can help you stay competitive.
Programming bottlenecks, scrap and machine downtime cost CNC shops time and money every day — whether you’re handling frequent design changes, juggling multiple setups or pushing machines to run more complex parts. In this webinar, you’ll learn practical CAM techniques for programming CNC parts faster, reducing setup time and avoiding costly shop-floor issues, using workflows built for real-world manufacturing environments. Rather than a high-level product overview, this session focuses on how CAM programmers and shop teams actually work. You’ll see how Fusion for Manufacturing connects design, CAM programming and simulation in a single platform, making it easier to manage change, program complex parts with confidence and validate toolpaths before they ever reach the machine. During this webinar, you will learn how to: Automatically update CAM toolpaths when CAD geometry changes while preserving machining intent Apply advanced roughing and finishing strategies — including adaptive clearing, steep and shallow, and high-efficiency machining — to reduce cycle time and improve tool life Program 3+2 and full five-axis milling operations to improve tool access, reduce setups and handle complex geometries Verify toolpaths using stock, holder and machine simulation to prevent collisions, scrap and rework Who should attend: CNC job shops managing high-mix, frequently-changing work Shops running multiple machines, controls and setups that need consistent, repeatable programming CNC programmers responsible for complex parts, tight tolerances and short lead times Shops looking to reduce programming time and setup complexity without adding more software Teams planning to expand into multi-axis or five-axis machining and want more confidence at the machine By the end of this webinar, you’ll walk away with practical CAM workflows you can apply immediately to program faster, reduce setups and keep machines cutting — so your shop can take on more work with confidence and consistency.
Achieve faster cuts and longer tool life in titanium, superalloys and stainless. Join Ceratizit for this technical deep dive into the machining strategies that shape today's most demanding metal cutting applications. This webinar focuses on next-generation solid carbide end mills engineered for titanium and heat-resistant superalloys. The tools also prove highly effective in stainless steel milling. This session delivers practical, actionable guidance for shops and operators looking to optimize tool performance and cycle times in tough materials. As manufacturing sectors continue to increase their use of titanium, superalloys and other difficult-to-machine materials, shops need tooling and strategies that deliver predictable results. Ceratizit's end mills are backed by a vertically-integrated supply chain that ensures quality substrates and production scalability. Agenda: Trochoidal milling: improve material removal efficiency while reducing heat and tool wear High efficiency milling (HEM): leverage low radial engagement to maximize tool life, stability and throughput Helical interpolations: stable entry and pocketing in difficult materials Ramping: versatile non-traditional entry techniques to extend tool life Full slot milling: how modern six-flute geometries enable aggressive slotting in titanium and superalloys
If your shop still relies on spreadsheets, paper travelers or an ERP that can't adapt to how your work really flows, you're likely losing time and capacity. This webinar shows how modern workflow management helps machine shops streamline processes, improve communication and gain control — whether on its own or alongside existing systems. Agenda: The state of the shop: key pain points facing modern machine shops and how workflow automation can solve them Case study: how a leading manufacturer modernized their processes and gained real-world results Steps to pivot and scale: a practical three-step roadmap for machine shops looking to streamline operations Metrics you wish you had: a single source of truth for all the metrics you need (and then some)
The American aerospace and defense industry depends on the most capable manufacturing shops and their ability to adapt to changing requirements. Regardless of manufacturing process focus or shop size, the digital thread and model-based definition (MBD) are once-in-a-generation adaptation challenges. Federal agencies and the top-tier OEMs who contract with them are implementing the goal of complete digital connectivity, including planning and production data. Join Kubotek Kosmos for an engaging webinar to discover the key process improvements and up-skilling strategies suppliers must adopt to secure upcoming contracts. Plus, learn actionable steps you can implement right now to stay ahead of the competition. Agenda: Understand the drivers behind the move toward MBE in the aerospace and defense sector Assess the primary obstacles shops face adapting to these changes Learn about the resources and tools that can help your shop stay relevant
Swiss CNC machines are ideal for producing small, high precision parts by performing multiple milling and turning operations simultaneously, but programming these machines can be challenging and complex. Learn how software fully integrated with SolidWorks provides AI technologies and a user-friendly approach to streamline and accelerate Swiss machine programming. Agenda: Learn how AI technologies and full integration with CAD software saves times with Swiss machining Watch a demonstration of synchronization and simulation options with machine aware programming See intuitive programming for long parts with new segmentation manager options View efficient programming tools such as folders for data management and synchronized display of NC code
RAPID + TCT lands in Boston from April 13-16. The event’s show floor features hands-on 3D printing technology exhibits from over 400 of the industry’s leading product and service providers. Each morning, at the Executive Perspectives Keynote Series, industry leaders candidly examine the present while charting a course for the future of additive.
A gathering of the best and brightest up-and-coming industry leaders to network, share knowledge and brainstorm about tomorrow’s manufacturing industry. This event targets the leaders of the next generation, and showcases new technologies and processes.
The PMPA National Technical Conference is the largest precision machining conference in the United States, bringing together hundreds of manufacturing professionals for three days of deep technical learning and real-world problem solving. With more than 40 expert-led sessions, the conference covers everything from hands-on shop floor challenges to best practices in processes, training, quality and management — all focused squarely on precision machining. Attendees walk away with practical insights, new ideas and those “ah-ha” moments that improve performance back at the shop. Just as valuable are the connections: opportunities to learn from peers, talk directly with suppliers and build relationships that last well beyond the event.
The Zoller Technology Days & Smart Manufacturing Summit will be held May 13-14, 2026, at the Zoller North American Headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This annual gathering of manufacturers, innovators and industry leaders is designed to showcase the technologies, strategies and automation solutions shaping the modern toolroom and manufacturing processes. Discover how a data-driven, automated toolroom and production process can transform your operation — saving time, reducing costs and increasing quality and competitiveness — through live demonstrations, expert insights and technical sessions.
As the largest robotics and automation event in the Americas, this is the place for anyone working with or curious about automation. Join us in discovering what’s next – for you and the world.
CONTRAX events connect buyers and suppliers of American contract manufacturing services. From concept to contract, CONTRAX showcases North America’s premier industrial parts producers and service providers – leaders in design engineering, 3D printing and prototyping, CNC machining, casting, metal forming and fabricating, injection molding, surface treatment, parts finishing and systems integration. CONTRAX mission is to grow North American manufacturing by showcasing suppliers equipped to support the growing demand for advanced manufacturing production and services. Businesses looking to expand their supply base, take product to market or address production, services, reshoring, onshoring or nearshoring needs can turn to CONTRAX to find the companies, content and insights for solving and staying ahead of supply chain challenges.
Most troubleshooting fails for a simple reason: rather than conducting true root cause analysis, people start assigning causes before they properly classify behavior.
The same principles that make a good low-volume process also make a good high-volume process. The difference is that production requires you to be intentional everywhere you used to rely on instinct.
Considerations for planning tool orders and material removal sequences to keep parts stable, accurate and clean.
Understanding the connection between surfaces, shapes and tolerances, and then designing your process with these nuances mind, is what separates a vendor from a partner.